History VideoGame / SuikodenI

** Special mention goes to recruiting Mathiu's uncle Leon. To do so, you need to get the castle up towards its maximum size, which Leon will remark upon the next time you talk to him. Next, you have to get Mathiu to write him a letter asking for his services. Now, this ordinarily wouldn't be a problem, but since Mathiu is your strategist, talking to him normally causes him to ask you if you're ready to advance the plot. If he's doing this, he can't write the letter, so you have to do it in a lull in the storyline. It's all a bit much even for an optional character.
*** Actually, if you have everyone (and I do mean ''everyone'') that you can get recruited up to the point when you head for the Dragon Den, the castle should be large enough to get Leon without any problems.

* TheHerosJourney

* ActionGirlfriend - Tengaar.
* AdamSmithHatesYourGuts - Seriously. Great, you have a headquarters with an inn, an item shop, an armoury, a blacksmith... not to mention that the shopkeepers are all in your employ. Can you expect to get any goods and services for free (or at least a hey-I'm-the-commander-of-this-army discount)? Nope.
* AntiVillain - [[spoiler:Teo.]]
* [[spoiler: BackFromTheDead]] - [[spoiler: Gremio]], if you recruit all 108 characters.
* BerserkButton - To quote from Ronnie Bell: "You bums! Calling me 'giant woman' over and over. I'll teach you a lesson!"
* BettingMiniGame - Certain recruits open up betting games. The dice game in particular is a useful method of building up gold to upgrade your characters.
* BlessedWithSuck - Guess what the Soul Eater does? [[spoiler: Oh, it just sucks the souls out of your closest friends and family to power itself up, is all.]]
* BlindIdiotTranslation - Not too bad for its time really, except for Stallion's "True Holy Rune" that isn't one of the True Runes at all; a better rendering would have been the ''Godspeed'' Rune.

* BlindSeer - Leknaat
* BodyguardBetrayal - [[spoiler:Pahn. He comes around later, giving the player enough time to prepare for his later HeroicSacrifice attempt to hopefully avoid RedemptionEqualsDeath]]
* BodyguardCrush - [[HoYay Subtext says]] Gremio.
* BoisterousBruiser - Viktor
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: [[spoiler: Two of the Five Imperial Generals (Kwanda Rosman and Milich Oppenheimer), thanks to Windy's Black Runes. Teo McDohl, Sonya Schulen, and Kasim Hazil all avert this and are opposed to the Liberation Army of their own will.]]

* ButThouMust - An {{egregious}} example occurs when you must choose to drink the tea that is obviously poisoned.

* CaptainErsatz - Maximilian, for Literature/DonQuixote, possibly Stallion, bizarrely, for SonicTheHedgehog and Fu Su Lu for Guin from ''LightNovel/GuinSaga''.

* CelibateHero - Flik
* ChainOfDeals - The Soap.
* CharacterDevelopment - Flik gradually matures from a [[ClingyJealousGirl Clingy Jealous Boyfriend]] who blames [=McDohl=] for [[spoiler:Odessa's]] death to a driven, loyal companion. And this turns out to be just the start for him...
* ChekhovsGun - The Fire Spears
* ColdSniper - Clive

* CruelAndUnusualDeath - [[spoiler: Gremio's HeroicSacrifice involves him being trapped alone a room and eaten alive by man-eating spores. He does get better if you collect all the stars.]]
* DarkIsNotEvil[=/=] EvenEvilHasStandards: The Soul Eater is described as "the most wicked of the True Runes," but at the end, [[spoiler:it rejects Windy]].
* DefeatMeansFriendship - Ah, BrainwashedAndCrazy, where would the Stars be without you? [[spoiler: Though you gotta watch for those recruits who [[NotBrainwashed aren't brainwashed]]...]]
* DragonRider - The Dragon Knights
* DuelBoss - Most notably [[spoiler: [=McDohl=]'s father]].

* ElementalRockPaperScissors - Played straight with runes, played sans elements during war battles and one-on-one duels.
* EmpathicWeapon - The Soul Eater and the Star Dragon Sword.
* EvenEvilHasStandards - [[spoiler:The Soul Eater Rune is widely considered to be the most evil of the True Runes (and with good reason), but even it is disgusted by Windy, and refuses to accept her as its wielder.]]

* EvilSorcerer - Windy.
* FalseFlagOperation - The Kalekka Incident.
* FantasticAesop - [[spoiler: If you forgive the murderer of your friend/caregiver you can bring them back to life!]]
* FantasticRacism - Quite a bit. The [[ElvesVersusDwarves dwarves hate the elves, the elves loathe and fear the dwarves,]] both groups think humans are dumber than dirt, the humans believe themselves superior to other races, and the xenophobic kobolds hate everyone. Fortunately, there are a few beings on each side who know that's all a bunch of crap, and most of the races generally get better as the game goes on. [[spoiler:Except for the elves, most of whom die from Kwanda's Burning Mirror, but the few who escaped the attack do join your side]].
* FinalDeath - Make a bad decision during war battles and most of your stars are vulnerable to this. Don't worry, they'll let you know via dramatic LastWords before you're informed of their demise.

* FiveManBand - The group at the start:
-->TheHero - Tir [=McDohl=]
-->TheLancer - Ted
-->TheBigGuy - Pahn
-->TheSmartGuy - Cleo
-->TheChick - Gremio (who gets this spot as opposed to Cleo due to the fact that he dotes on Tir like an overprotective mother, and tends to be the most emotional of the group)
** As well as the Six Great Generals of the Empire. Remember, there was once a time where they're genuine good guys rather than FiveBadBand.
-->TheHero - Teo [=McDohl=]
-->TheLancer - Kasim Hazil
-->TheBigGuy - Kwanda Rossman
-->TheSmartGuy - Milich Oppenheimer (Fruitiness aside, he came up with a lot of contraptions that caused many troubles for the Liberation Army, such as the Antoinette poison pollen)
-->TheChick - Kilahwer Shulen (Sonya's mother)
-->SixthRanger - Georg Prime ([[AllThereInTheManual Being a Six Great General is in his resume from investigation]]. He's already gone by the time I rolls in.)
* {{Foreshadowing}} - [[spoiler:Sanchez]]'s name isn't inscribed on Luc's tablet of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
* GameBreakingBug - The [[DishingOutDirt Earth Rune]]'s [[ForceField Clay Guardian and Guardian Earth spells]] are supposed to increase the allies' defense, but somehow ''it does not work''.
* GuestStarPartyMember - Anyone in the party who's not a Star is a temporary party member.
* GuideDangIt - Recruiting several of the stars qualifies as this

* GunsAreWorthless - Only the Howling Voice Guild uses guns in this world. Clive is one of the best damage dealers you get, though.
* HelloInsertNameHere - Young [=McDohl=] can be named whatever you please. Same goes for your base and army.

* HeroicBSOD - [[spoiler: Tir right after Gremio's death.]]

--> '''Kirkis''': "That's right. In vain. All of our efforts were in vain. But why? Why? Please tell me, Master Tir. What good were our efforts? Why did this happen? We did our best! I was insulted, abused, but I fought on. And yet...yet...Nothing! Nothing remains! Everything I tried to protect. When everything was over, I planned to give this ring to Sylvina. Poor Sylvina. Now this ring has no hand to adorn. It's useless now. There's nothing..."

--> '''Gremio''': "Kirkis, this ring is your hope. And you must never give up hope. With just a little bit of hope, you can survive, live on. And that goes for humans as well as elves."
* HiddenElfVillage - Subverted, in that it's out in the open and rather easy to find. They're not very hospitable toward humans, though
* HighlyVisibleNinja - What's proper kunoichi attire? Kasumi says bright red and no pants! And the Shrike Rune involves high-jumping! [[FetishFuel Um...]]

* ICallItVera - Traditionally, the men from Warriors' Village name their weapons after what is most important to them. Usually, it's the girl they love.
* ItWillNeverCatchOn - "A machine that runs on oil? Sounds ridiculous."
* JerkAss - Leknaat's young servant Luc.
** He actually possesses [[spoiler:the True Wind Rune, which makes him one of the most powerful mages in the game.]]He uses its power mostly to be a petty dick.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold - Flik and Apple.
* LaResistance - The Liberation Army.
* LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand - Near the beginning of the game, the party is given a reward for getting rid of some bandits, cuing a happy little ItemGet sound. Then the ObstructiveBureaucrat tagging along steals it, and this happens instead.
* LostForever - Did you forget to recruit Leon Silverberg before the assault at Shasarazade? Say good bye to the 100% Completion! [[note]]You need to talk to Mathiu IN the headquarters so he writes the letter to Leon when asked. If you've done Shasarazade, Mathiu will not be in the place and will only write for Leon AFTER the final war, which renders him useless and also by then, you probably have passed [[spoiler:Gremio's possible resurrection.]][[/note]]
* MultipleEndings - [[GottaCatchThemAll Collect all]] [[OneHundredAndEight 108 Stars of Destiny]] to get the best ending!
* NeverFoundTheBody - Odessa Silverberg suffers lethal wounds during an Imperial attack. Before she dies, she asks Tir [=McDohl=] to weigh her body down and throw it in an underground river, so that friend and foe alike do not learn of her death. He does so, and keeps the secret for the better part of a year, revealing the ruse only when LaResistance is fully established.
* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands - Sort of; the Soul Eater has four spell like any other rune, but [=McDohl=] only gains access to each successive spell after certain plot points.

* NiceHat - The Narcissists wear very nice hats.
* NonActionGuy - Hix ''can'' fight -- he just isn't very good, and prefers avoiding combat when he can. Unfortunately, the poor guy lives in the Warriors' Village and has [[{{Tsundere}} Tengaar]] as his love interest, and she's bound and determined to make him a man.

* OneWingedAngel - So you finally arrived at the final battle, ready to kick the (completely human) {{Big Bad}}'s-[[OhCrap WHAT THE HELL?! HE JUST TRANSFORMED INTO A GIANT FUCKING GOLDEN DRAGON!!]]
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou - Clive chasing after Elza.
* OurElvesAreDifferent - For a start they're moronic to the point of retarded, they think they're the most advanced civilization around despite being the smallest faction and then there's Stallion, an off-beat blue haired speedster.
* PettingZooPeople - The kobolds.

* PleaseSpareHimMyLiege - Tir, as commander of the Liberation Army, will be given the task of deciding whether captured Imperials should be put to death. Most troops will endorse this, but a couple times, someone will raise a red flag and ask for the person to be spared. No such objection is raised for [[JerkAss Kraze]], though. [[spoiler:He's also the only character you can willfully kill off without sacrificing a Star of Destiny.]]

* QuicklyDemotedWoman - Poor Odessa.

* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld - [[spoiler: Ted got to be BlessedWithSuck before [=McDohl=].]]

* RedemptionEqualsDeath - Can be averted in one case; you have to [[spoiler:beef up Pahn before his LeaveHimToMe moment against Teo [=McDohl=] and fight ''very'' carefully, otherwise he'll die and you [[GuideDangIt lose out on the best ending]].]]
** Played straight with [[spoiler: Emperor Barbarossa]]

* SelfMadeOrphan - A rare heroic example can be found here... [[spoiler: the main character]].
* SequenceBreaking - If you go outside before talking to anyone, you can level up quickly, then get your first companion and go outside with him as well. Since TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything, going to an area you aren't supposed to go to until later will get you a good rune. If you go alone, it's double experience. Going with a friend gets you double money. And you get items to make your characters regen along the way as well.
* ShockAndAwe - Flik's not called '[[RedBaron Blue Lightning]]' for nothing.
* ShoutOut - The animation of Ronnie Bell's Hate Rune. [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything It looks similar to]] [[KamehameHadoken a sphere made of concentrated battle aura being launched at its opponent]] to me.
* SiblingYinYang - Mathiu Silverberg is a strategist who was formerly a pacifistic teacher, who was formerly a master strategist in the Imperial army. His sister Odessa is a [[RebelliousPrincess rebellious girl]], leads the Liberation Army, and at one point [[WhatTheHellHero calls out Mathiu as a coward]].
* SourSupporter - [[spoiler:Sonya Shulen.]]

* SprintShoes - The Holy Rune, which doubles walking speed when the run button is held down in a dungeon or village, and Stallion's Godspeed Rune, which does the same, but also increases walking speed on the world map.
* TheStoic - Humphrey is one of the first instances of this in the series.
* TheStrategist - Mathiu Silverberg.
* SuckMyRose - Milich Oppenheimer ''really'' likes roses.

* TreacheryCoverUp - Happens near the end with [[spoiler: Sanchez's reveal as TheMole.]]
* TrojanPrisoner - Mathiu pulls off this tactic to free Viktor and Warren from Moravia.
* {{Tsundere}} - ''Tengaar'', one of the best examples of this trope in the entire series.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair - Stallion the elf.
* YourSoulIsMine - The Soul Eater rune is a Type Two B - When people [[spoiler:close to the bearer]] die, it eats their soul and gains power.

* LostForever - Did you forget to recruit Leon Silverberg before the assault at Shasarazade? Say good bye to the 100% Completion! [[hottip:*:You need to talk to Mathiu IN the headquarters so he writes the letter to Leon when asked. If you've done Shasarazade, Mathiu will not be in the place and will only write for Leon AFTER the final war, which renders him useless and also by then, you probably have passed [[spoiler:Gremio's possible resurrection.]]

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: [[spoiler: The five imperial generals, thanks to Windy's black runes.]]

** Made even scarier when you realize she bears a slight resemblance to another [[NeonGenesisEvangelion red-headed mega-tsundere...]]

* TheArcher - Odessa and some of the elves (not Stallion, though...he's quite hot-headed).

* SprintShoes - The Holy Rune, which doubles walking speed when the run button is held down in a dungeon or village, and Stallion's Godspeed Rune, which does the same, but also increases walking speed on the WorldMap.

* {{Subtext}} - Gremio and his obsession with the 'Young master'.

* PleaseKillMeIfItSatisfiesYou: Expect many recruits to give you this option if they were BrainwashedAndCrazy and did something unforgivable. [[Spoiler: Or if they just committed a FaceHeelTurn.]] But don't do it.

** Same goes for the commander of the dragon knights. You have a small window of opportunity to recruit him.

--> ''Kirkis'': "That's right. In vain. All of our efforts were in vain. But why? Why? Please tell me, Master Tir. What good were our efforts? Why did this happen? We did our best! I was insulted, abused, but I fought on. And yet...yet...Nothing! Nothing remains! Everything I tried to protect. When everything was over, I planned to give this ring to Sylvina. Poor Sylvina. Now this ring has no hand to adorn. It's useless now. There's nothing..."
*** Gremio, of all people, winds up bringing him out of it pretty quick.
--> ''Gremio'': "Kirkis, this ring is your hope. And you must never give up hope. With just a little bit of hope, you can survive, live on. And that goes for humans as well as elves."

--> Kirkis: "That's right. In vain. All of our efforts were in vain. But why? Why? Please tell me, Master Tir. What good were our efforts? Why did this happen? We did our best! I was insulted, abused, but I fought on. And yet...yet...Nothing! Nothing remains! Everything I tried to protect. When everything was over, I planned to give this ring to Sylvina. Poor Sylvina. Now this ring has no hand to adorn. It's useless now. There's nothing..."

--> Gremio: "Kirkis, this ring is your hope. And you must never give up hope. With just a little bit of hope, you can survive, live on. And that goes for humans as well as elves."

-->TheChick - Sonya Shulen

Young [[HelloInsertNameHere Master]] '[[CanonName Tir]]' [=McDohl=] lives a comfortable, happy life in the [[TheEmpire Scarlet Moon Empire]] with his famous father, house full of [[BattleButler personal bodyguards]], and best friend Ted. However, everything gets turned upside down when he winds up with the [[EmpathicWeapon Soul Eater]], one of the 27 True Runes, [[ClingyMacGuffin stuck on his right hand]]. Turns out the empire's ''really'' interested in said True Rune, and young [=McDohl=] finds himself roped into the [[LaResistance Liberation Army]] and forced to face off against his father and his country.

** Well, not entirely true. The innkeeper will let you crash for free, although you have your own room & bed (which you never use except for plot scenes.)
** Not exactly. The innkeeper actually charges ''30 potch per person''. So, yeah, Adam Smith ''really'' hates your guts in this game.

* CruelAndUnusualDeath - [[spoiler: Gremio's HeroicSacrifice involves him being trapped alone a room and eaten alive by man-eating spores. He does [[IGotBetter get better]] if you collect all the stars.]]
* DarkIsNotEvil / EvenEvilHasStandards: The Soul Eater is described as "the most wicked of the True Runes," but at the end, [[spoiler:it rejects Windy]].

** Oddly, if you use a game with dead characters to get the OldSaveBonus for ''SuikodenII'', the dead people are [[IGotBetter alive and well]]. This is even lampshaded in the second game.

* CaptainErsatz - Maximilian, for DonQuixote, possibly Stallion, bizarrely, for SonicTheHedgehog and Fu Su Lu for Guin from ''LightNovel/GuinSaga''.

* CaptainErsatz - Maximilian, for DonQuixote, possibly Stallion, bizarrely, for SonicTheHedgehog and Fu Su Lu for Guin from GuinSaga.